172 



WANDERINGS IN 



Third tremendoiis sharp and crooked claws. Whenever he 



Journey, 



seizes an animal with these formidable weapons, he hugs 



it close to his body, and keeps it there till it dies through 

 pressure, or through want of food. Nor does the Ant- 

 bear, in the mean time, suffer much from loss of aliment, as 

 it is a well known fact, that he can go longer without food 

 than, perhaps, any other animal, except the land tortoise. 

 His skin is of a texture that perfectly resists the bite of a 

 dog ; his hinder parts are protected by thick and shaggy 

 hair, Avhile his immense tail is large enough to cover his 

 whole body. 



The Indians have a great dread of coming in contact 

 Avith the Ant-bear ; and after disabling him in the chase, 

 never think of approaching him till he be quite dead. It 

 is perhaps on account of this caution, that naturalists 

 have never yet given to the world a true and correct 

 drawing of this singular animal, or described the peculiar 

 position of his fore feet when he walks or stands. If, in 

 taking a drawing from a dead Ant-bear, you judge of the 

 position in which he stands from that of all other terres- 

 trial animals, the sloth excepted, you will be in error. 

 Examine only a figure of this animal, in books of natural 

 history, or inspect a stuffed specimen in the best museums, 

 and you will see that the fore claws are just in the same 

 forward attitude, as those of a dog, or a common bear, 

 Avhen he walks or stands. But this is a distorted and un- 

 natural position ; and in life, would be a painful and 



